Discussion on Dr Ong Teck Chin

[Nebbermind]

autolycus:

clayman:

From one ACS boy to another jencrs....Cheers!


If only there is another in the mould of Ernie....

Class of 78.

Oh yes, Earnest Lau. One of the best ACSian principals I've had the pleasure to work with as a student and colleague, and also when running around seeking advice and information.

I'm from the class of 83, his last complete batch.

really? only remember him as someone on the stage during chapel or assembly, staring at the ceilling and looking really bored!

[Lilac66]

[quote]I would say in this instance (advice to go to RI), Dr ong erred in not considering how his remarks will be taken by staff and fiercely loyal AC boys. he's probably too straight (pun not intended), as seen from how he kept an RI car decal on his car when he was at AC (in the early days at least). [/quote]



Hi, just apasserby in this thread. No relations with ACS or RI. But from what I gather, Ong doesn't seem to have sufficient EQ to handle this. With regds to what I read earlier, ya, why didn't he ask the boys to go over to RI when he was in full charge?

As for the car decal, sorry, i feel it's lack of EQ at work again. Sorry my analogy... but it feels like he's married to a new woman but still keeps the photo of his ex-wife in full view of the new wonam in his life.

Just my humble view.

[jencrs]

Unfortunately, Earnest Lau not really my time. Just remember him from school photos. I've been reading on his experience in ACS in Echo, and what he wrote is inspiring, and gives me a greater appreciation of how far we've come as a school.


Let me just cut and paste an excerpt from Earnest Lau's article \"In Days of Yore\". While not exactly the same situation, I believe the lessons learnt then, are equally valid for what we've been talking about in the last few pages.
[quote]By the 1960s, the old School had begun to evolve with the changing political and social climate. Organisationally, ACS was required to merge the morning and afternoon sessions into one school. Until then, the afternoon session was known as the Oldham Methodist School which was the re-named Anglo-Chinese Continuation School. It was a convenient way to post the weaker students to the afternoon session...............It was welcomed by the boys as the largely artificial distinction was broken for good. Although there was an initial negative effect on School Certificate results, ACS lived with it and, in due course, caught up.

Student morale in the afternoon session was, to begin with, relatively modest – the boys were from the bottom half of the cohort whose self-worth can be imagined. This had a knock-on effect on the teachers as well. Although efforts were made to counteract this with a variety of sporting activities and clubs, the atmosphere was unhealthy. If anything, there was a reverse pride in wanting to “disprove” their image. What negative effect it had on the “ACS spirit” was anybody’s guess.

The restructuring of the School in 1973 was a significant step towards rectifying an unsatisfactory situation about which many had complained, until the Board of Governors decided to reorganise the school. The effect was telling: for me, it was easier to manage the younger boys and build up school spirit. The teachers took somewhat longer to get into their stride.

This observation is based on my personal experience in teaching some of the weakest students in Secondary II, whose motivation was low, but I hoped that after several months with them, their attitudes would improve. I have dwelt on this issue at some length because I believe it was a clear lesson in understanding the effects of negative labelling where only the “best” are identified, leaving “the rest” to fend for themselves.[/quote]http://www.blueskiescom.com/alumni/may_jun_10/earnest_lau_03.html

It goes deeper than hurt feelings and bruised egos. Here's a man who not only thinks about the students, but also of the school as a whole.

I miss Paris.

[verykiasu2010]

:offtopic: you miss the hilton one or the french one ? lol

[jencrs]

verykiasu2010:

:offtopic: you miss the hilton one or the french one ? lol

Got another one now la. See la nvr read my nonsense so u dunno haha.

[3Boys]

jencrs:

Still, you should chill out a little, why so serious? Over a guy you don't even know? We're BFFs after all. You're Paris, of course, with all your drinking and high living. I'll be Nicole, with the weight problem, except in the opposite sense. We'll be at a birthday bash held in your honour, even though it's not your birthday, and while you dance and flash your panties to everyone, you'd pause with a faraway look in your eyes, thinking about the picture you have in your wallet of OTC that you cut out of the Straits Times and you think to yourself, \"why does he always look so tired?\" and muse about how you can share his burden. All I ask is that you let me down easy.

Oh ya, insert => wherever you see a period.

Cor.... you're good! Sorry you've missed me, I've been busy being ditzy....

If this is the type of lip I'd get in the future, I'd probably better NOT send my boys there

But you gotta admit, I got under your skin big time, Nicole

You feel strongly about this, and I don't think its a big deal. And no, I don't deal differently with ex-school mates vs folk from other schools, at work or socially....to do so in the first instance would be discrimination, and in the second instance, just silliness. Also, I don't think you can speak for all ACSians, for I personally know 2 old boys who are adamant their children would NOT attend ACS, and one of them now has his son in RI.

My view, this parochialism is just plain unhelpful. Obviously you disagree, and so be it.

Paris

[jencrs]

3Boys:

Cor.... you're good! Sorry you've missed me, I've been busy being ditzy....

And I didn't get invited? Where's the love, Paris? Where's the love???

3Boys:

But you gotta admit, I got under your skin big time, Nicole

wha? are you really that insecure that you need validation? If you had actually got under my skin, big time no less, one would think you wouldn't have to say it. Guess you're tired of giving yourself high fives. I blame the alchohol and your video. No la I'm kidding, the video's good. I'd give you a pat on the head and a biscuit just to boost your self-esteem, but I'm all out...... of pats on the head. And biscuits. but here's a tummy rub!!!

3Boys:

And no, I don't deal differently with ex-school mates vs folk from other schools, at work or socially....to do so in the first instance would be discrimination, and in the second instance, just silliness.

It's sad that you treat everyone equally badly. The angels shed a tear. But it's not about discrimination. It's about acknowledging a special bond, of a shared experience and culture during our formative years, even if we've never met. What's silly would be to ignore it.

3Boys:

Also, I don't think you can speak for all ACSians, for I personally know 2 old boys who are adamant their children would NOT attend ACS, and one of them now has his son in RI.

Woah stop the press! 2 whole old boys? I didn't say I spoke for all ACSians. Let me show you.

jencrs:

I can tell you that most, if not all, of the ACSians I know would send their kids to ACS, even if their results afford them an academically better school.

3Boys:

My view, this parochialism is just plain unhelpful. Obviously you disagree, and so be it.

Paris

I could agree with you paris, but then we'd both be wrong You overgeneralise and oversimplify (for emphasis la)

Don't take the easy way out, Paris. Read what I wrote, what i've quoted, and say something real, without trying to sidestep. Make us proud.

xoxo,
nicole.

[3Boys]

jencrs:

It's sad that you treat everyone equally badly. The angels shed a tear.

Given that you don't know me, that would be you talking through your hat, or are you side-stepping by pleading humour again?

jencrs,
If you really did want a serious reply, then your textual origami does not help. You did ask, \"Why so serious?\". Further, I had refrained in the main from making sideswipes at you or sarcasm, so why this approach from you? Humour again?

Snarky or serious, your choice.......

The one doing the side step is you, actually. I don't flit in and out between sarcasm, snarkiness and admixing scripture, and serious points at random. Honestly, I am getting whiplash trying to follow. Obfuscate a word that ring a bell?

Are you a parent by the way, or merely a disgruntled ex-student with an axe to grind?

[3Boys]

A Principal is an educator – Agree


A Principal has his students’ interests at heart – Agree

A Principal has his school’s interests at heart – Agree

As a concerned parent, would you prefer a Principal that puts the interests of the school above that your child?

I don’t need a jingoistic, rabble rousing Principal to be in charge of the school my children are in. To paraphrase, so what if a child gains a school spirit if he loses his place in college? What good is an overblown sense of school spirit if it detracts from the really important things in life?

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."

I remember the good old days in SA when life was black and white and passions ran high. We drew caricatures of the ACS badge on paper to throw darts at. All in good fun…for a TEENAGER.

Do we carry that forward to adulthood?

The Principal of Fairfield Primary, where my child is, when I hear her speak, its always about the CHILD, its seldom ever about the school. "I would like your child to develop these values, I have this programme for the academically weaker children, I have this CCA to promote holistic development for YOUR CHILD." Once in a while she will sprinkle soemthing about being a good and honourable ‘Fairsian’, which is not an end in itself, but rather, that one should aspire to certain behaviours and morals that will make the school proud.

That approach sits very comfortably with me. What would be very uncomfortable is she were going on continuously banging the drum about how great and wonderful the school was and how the students need to have die hard loyalty to the storied institution. C’mon, gimme a break. Of what good is a overblown/overhyped ACSian spirit to anyone other than ex-ACS boys? Particularly if the downside is inertia and reluctance to break with tradition. So you have a strong affinity for your ex-school mates, that mean you will not go the extra-mile for an associate of yours that did not come from the same school? All else being equal, you less likely to do business with him, go to his wedding, put him up for promotion? You begin to see where all this breaks down? Should PM Lee pick his cabinet on the basis of whether they were from Catholic High? If this was indeed the case, which is what seems to be implied (go the extra mile for an old boy), then I think it is far from being a desirable behaviour.

Perhaps this is where the ACSians and the pubic at large differ on their view of OTC. ACS, despite its aided/independent status, is still dependent on partial Government funding to run its programme. It is an institution that belongs to Singaporeans at large, and not just ex-ACSians. It is YOUR school, but it is MY school too. I may not give 2 hoots about the ACS spirit, but I do care if there were a good school with a well developed programme for my child to get to in the future. In such a context, is an overblown sense of loyalty on the part of the board or principal a help or a hindrance?

[Way2GO]

There is merit in inculcating a strong school spirit and having an old boys network. Read somewhere that as we grow older, we always gravitate towards the friends that we make in our formative years in school. I found that true in my own life experience.


Paris, now I hv to go read back what Nicole said dat is winding u up